Comments on: DOT Rolls Out Fort Greene Bike Lanes & Traffic-Calming http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/11/12/dot-rolls-out-fort-greene-bike-lanes-traffic-calming/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:07:22 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: JK http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/11/12/dot-rolls-out-fort-greene-bike-lanes-traffic-calming/comment-page-1/#comment-40445 JK Sat, 17 Nov 2007 03:05:27 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/11/12/dot-rolls-out-fort-greene-bike-lanes-traffic-calming/#comment-40445 The neighborhoods around downtown Brooklyn started calling for traffic calming around 1996. Along with the neighborhood associations, and TA, Konheim and Ketcham deserve credit for focusing community concerns on real solutions. It's great to see their efforts finally bearing fruit in 2007. One lesson is that some of the seeds planted now will not be harvested for years. The capital budget process is slow and it takes persistence to win changes to the physical city. That's why efforts like Upper West Side Renaissance, Safe Routs to School and Safe Routes to Seniors are so important. They provide a structure for fundamental change. Incidentally, don't forget that overcoming 9/11 took immense bureaucratic and psychological energy that, regardless of DOT commissioners, set back livable streets efforts. I'm greatful that DOT is led by a transportation reformer, and hope this window of opportunity is not dashed by some catastrophe or crises. The neighborhoods around downtown Brooklyn started calling for traffic calming around 1996. Along with the neighborhood associations, and TA, Konheim and Ketcham deserve credit for focusing community concerns on real solutions. It's great to see their efforts finally bearing fruit in 2007. One lesson is that some of the seeds planted now will not be harvested for years. The capital budget process is slow and it takes persistence to win changes to the physical city. That's why efforts like Upper West Side Renaissance, Safe Routs to School and Safe Routes to Seniors are so important. They provide a structure for fundamental change. Incidentally, don't forget that overcoming 9/11 took immense bureaucratic and psychological energy that, regardless of DOT commissioners, set back livable streets efforts. I'm greatful that DOT is led by a transportation reformer, and hope this window of opportunity is not dashed by some catastrophe or crises.

]]> By: Davis http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/11/12/dot-rolls-out-fort-greene-bike-lanes-traffic-calming/comment-page-1/#comment-40193 Davis Tue, 13 Nov 2007 15:25:21 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/11/12/dot-rolls-out-fort-greene-bike-lanes-traffic-calming/#comment-40193 You said it, FDR. I've heard that JSK was almost chosen as DOT commissioner at the start of the first Bberg Admin but for obvious political reasons, and because she was a decent administrator who had somewhat fixed up a broken agency, Chuck's wife was kept on. But Iris had no vision or awareness of what the potential was for her role. I'm sure that if JSK were there, particularly during the planning of the 2012 Olympics, there would have been enough internally driven advocacy and outstanding planning that we would have seen a lot of these good projects happening quite a few years ago despite the fact that the mayor wasn't all that interested until very recently. You said it, FDR.

I've heard that JSK was almost chosen as DOT commissioner at the start of the first Bberg Admin but for obvious political reasons, and because she was a decent administrator who had somewhat fixed up a broken agency, Chuck's wife was kept on.

But Iris had no vision or awareness of what the potential was for her role. I'm sure that if JSK were there, particularly during the planning of the 2012 Olympics, there would have been enough internally driven advocacy and outstanding planning that we would have seen a lot of these good projects happening quite a few years ago despite the fact that the mayor wasn't all that interested until very recently.

]]> By: fdr http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/11/12/dot-rolls-out-fort-greene-bike-lanes-traffic-calming/comment-page-1/#comment-40192 fdr Tue, 13 Nov 2007 15:10:19 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/11/12/dot-rolls-out-fort-greene-bike-lanes-traffic-calming/#comment-40192 So if DOT did a 180 with a new commissioner, what does this say for Bloomberg? He was asleep at the wheel (so to speak) for 6 years and suddenly had an epiphany? And what if Weinshall had left DOT sooner - she was looking for a new job for at least a couple of years. Who would have become the commissioner? Horodniceanu? Primeggia? So if DOT did a 180 with a new commissioner, what does this say for Bloomberg? He was asleep at the wheel (so to speak) for 6 years and suddenly had an epiphany? And what if Weinshall had left DOT sooner - she was looking for a new job for at least a couple of years. Who would have become the commissioner? Horodniceanu? Primeggia?

]]> By: myrtle guy http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/11/12/dot-rolls-out-fort-greene-bike-lanes-traffic-calming/comment-page-1/#comment-40180 myrtle guy Tue, 13 Nov 2007 04:14:46 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/11/12/dot-rolls-out-fort-greene-bike-lanes-traffic-calming/#comment-40180 As I heard, Commissioner Sadik-Kahn herself went on a bike ride with some DOT staff and personally felt propelled to see to it that this planted median would become a priority, and it has. Great work Commissioner! As I heard, Commissioner Sadik-Kahn herself went on a bike ride with some DOT staff and personally felt propelled to see to it that this planted median would become a priority, and it has.

Great work Commissioner!

]]> By: Gary http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/11/12/dot-rolls-out-fort-greene-bike-lanes-traffic-calming/comment-page-1/#comment-40178 Gary Tue, 13 Nov 2007 03:03:30 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/11/12/dot-rolls-out-fort-greene-bike-lanes-traffic-calming/#comment-40178 For me, the green median is what makes the project . . . so the credit goes to Sadik-Khan. Come on: have you EVER seen a department do a 180 (for the better) like the transition from Iris to Janette? It's like someone waved a magic wand over the DOT and turned lead into gold. For me, the green median is what makes the project . . . so the credit goes to Sadik-Khan.

Come on: have you EVER seen a department do a 180 (for the better) like the transition from Iris to Janette? It's like someone waved a magic wand over the DOT and turned lead into gold.

]]> By: Davis http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/11/12/dot-rolls-out-fort-greene-bike-lanes-traffic-calming/comment-page-1/#comment-40169 Davis Mon, 12 Nov 2007 23:48:10 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/11/12/dot-rolls-out-fort-greene-bike-lanes-traffic-calming/#comment-40169 Iris deserves absolutely no credit for this great project. All of these projects were planned and implemented by a special staff member at the Brooklyn Borough Commissioner's office called the Downtown Brooklyn Transportation Coordinator (or something like that). This staffer was hired as part of the Downtown Brooklyn Traffic Calming Project. That project was initiated and driven forward by community members back in 1997 or so (search around TA's web site). For YEARS, Iris's traffic engineer-run DOT dragged their feet and did whatever they could to squash the Traffic Calming Project. On top of all that, I'm pretty certain that the Downtown Brooklyn Transportation Coordinator is paid for with EDC funds or some other source. DOT wasn't even writing his checks. If Iris cared, if she was paying attention -- if she deserved credit -- this specific project would have been completed five years ago. It is a sick joke to say that Iris deserves credit for this project. We are only just now beginning to understand just how far back we fell during her administration. Iris deserves absolutely no credit for this great project.

All of these projects were planned and implemented by a special staff member at the Brooklyn Borough Commissioner's office called the Downtown Brooklyn Transportation Coordinator (or something like that). This staffer was hired as part of the Downtown Brooklyn Traffic Calming Project. That project was initiated and driven forward by community members back in 1997 or so (search around TA's web site). For YEARS, Iris's traffic engineer-run DOT dragged their feet and did whatever they could to squash the Traffic Calming Project. On top of all that, I'm pretty certain that the Downtown Brooklyn Transportation Coordinator is paid for with EDC funds or some other source. DOT wasn't even writing his checks.

If Iris cared, if she was paying attention -- if she deserved credit -- this specific project would have been completed five years ago. It is a sick joke to say that Iris deserves credit for this project. We are only just now beginning to understand just how far back we fell during her administration.

]]> By: mkultra http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/11/12/dot-rolls-out-fort-greene-bike-lanes-traffic-calming/comment-page-1/#comment-40162 mkultra Mon, 12 Nov 2007 22:19:38 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/11/12/dot-rolls-out-fort-greene-bike-lanes-traffic-calming/#comment-40162 creditor, i salute your desire to be fair & balanced. however, it is worth pointing out, then, that the project did not include the green planted median under iris - that component was added personally by janette. creditor, i salute your desire to be fair & balanced. however, it is worth pointing out, then, that the project did not include the green planted median under iris - that component was added personally by janette.

]]> By: Eric http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/11/12/dot-rolls-out-fort-greene-bike-lanes-traffic-calming/comment-page-1/#comment-40161 Eric Mon, 12 Nov 2007 22:14:42 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/11/12/dot-rolls-out-fort-greene-bike-lanes-traffic-calming/#comment-40161 No, no, she deserves the credit for planning this. Good for her. I'm just saying that we shouldn't get carried away. Let's remember that the Weinshall-led DOT wanted to run a couple of one-way speedways on 6th and 7th Avenues through Park Slope, among other things. No, no, she deserves the credit for planning this. Good for her. I'm just saying that we shouldn't get carried away. Let's remember that the Weinshall-led DOT wanted to run a couple of one-way speedways on 6th and 7th Avenues through Park Slope, among other things.

]]> By: Creditor http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/11/12/dot-rolls-out-fort-greene-bike-lanes-traffic-calming/comment-page-1/#comment-40160 Creditor Mon, 12 Nov 2007 22:05:34 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/11/12/dot-rolls-out-fort-greene-bike-lanes-traffic-calming/#comment-40160 Not a crumb of credit? Such bitterness blinds the eye. Miss the flogging so? Not a crumb of credit?
Such bitterness blinds the eye.
Miss the flogging so?

]]> By: (Not really) Lew from Brooklyn http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/11/12/dot-rolls-out-fort-greene-bike-lanes-traffic-calming/comment-page-1/#comment-40158 (Not really) Lew from Brooklyn Mon, 12 Nov 2007 21:54:24 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/11/12/dot-rolls-out-fort-greene-bike-lanes-traffic-calming/#comment-40158 Yeah, yeah, Iris for Mayor. A hundred years from now she'll surely be judged as the greatest DOT commish ever. Could Mr. Ibelli-cose actually have said "hugs on wheels?" I imagine not. Yeah, yeah, Iris for Mayor. A hundred years from now she'll surely be judged as the greatest DOT commish ever.

Could Mr. Ibelli-cose actually have said "hugs on wheels?" I imagine not.

]]> By: Creditor http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/11/12/dot-rolls-out-fort-greene-bike-lanes-traffic-calming/comment-page-1/#comment-40157 Creditor Mon, 12 Nov 2007 21:00:15 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/11/12/dot-rolls-out-fort-greene-bike-lanes-traffic-calming/#comment-40157 Weinshall haters take note. This worthy project was planned and funded before the current green regime took the reins at DOT. Weinshall haters take note. This worthy project was planned and funded before the current green regime took the reins at DOT.

]]> By: anon http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/11/12/dot-rolls-out-fort-greene-bike-lanes-traffic-calming/comment-page-1/#comment-40155 anon Mon, 12 Nov 2007 20:59:50 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/11/12/dot-rolls-out-fort-greene-bike-lanes-traffic-calming/#comment-40155 Quotes like that prove that CB's are manned only by New York City's best and brightest! Quotes like that prove that CB's are manned only by New York City's best and brightest!

]]>